Sound Off, Feb. 25, 2013

Today, one editorial says to blame the unions for our mess. Really? Why blame them for getting a sweetheart contract and not blame the politicians that gave it to them? Is blaming the unions and their workers any different than blaming the poor and working poor because they get more benefits in some cases than the working upper middle class earn? Given that the median household income in this country is around 50,000, why is it that those working the welfare system can make much more? It's not their fault, it's the politician's fault.

Take a look of a CBS reporter's analysis out of PA. Be sure to go to the second page to see the list of all the goodies out there. It may not be CT, but can we be that much different? Single mother earning $19,000 is eligible for $81,000 in benefits. The investigation was launched when this worker turned down a raise because she would lose too much in benefits.

In Torrington the BOE wants to cut the swim program to save money. They should cut the football team. What a disgrace they are. Hazing, sexual assault, the list goes on. Not a great group of upstanding young men at all. I bet that program cost far more than the swim team. Actually, as a taxpayer I would love to see exactly how much each sport cost to run. Pay to play and no exceptions; if you cannot pay you don't play. Maybe that will weed out the undesirables.

Regarding freedom of speech: When someone screams "fire" in a crowded theater, do people rise up and demand freedom of speech be restricted for all of us? Or do we punish the bad guy?

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Regarding freedom of the press: When a media outlet or person distributes information or opinion of questionable accuracy under freedom of the press, do people rise up and demand all media be restricted to only that which can be proven? Or do we ignore the drivel and seek elsewhere for the truth?

Regarding freedom of religion: When someone uses religion as a justification for committing a crime, do people rise up and demand religious freedoms be restricted for all? Or do we punish the criminal regardless of the justification?

Regarding the right to bear arms: When some nut job shoots up a school full of kids do people rise up and demand guns be restricted for all of us?

Anybody who says anything bad about Obama should be put in jail for 20 years. He is our president. If you don't like it, move to Canada.

Freedom of speech! This is still America. Only dictators running a Communist country don't allow people to question their actions and throw civilians in prison for it.

Our dear governor and his legislature raised taxes on the working members of the state $2 billion and spent it all on the best five, a bus to nowhere, EIC (Redistribution) and yes, the failure to address the other third of the state budget; union contracts because he was not going to throw the unions that got him and his legislature elected. How long before he throws them under the bus like he is doing with his democrat municipalities? Do you want an example of what will happen to Connecticut if the legislature does not get serious? Look at Detroit.

I think a weekly or monthly photo page should be posted by the Register on all the animals up for adoption from Torrington Animal Control. This would be a nice segment for the paper to sponsor.